No Date Medal F-280A-1b Brass Historical Calender (Regular Strike)

The Aaron White Calendar Medal

The Aaron White Calendar Medal (Fuld-280A-1b, #594095) is a scarce brass calendar medal issued by Aaron White, an attorney from New Boston, Connecticut, and a staunch "hard money" advocate.

White believed that paper money was "poison" and hoarded more than 160,000 coins in preparation for what he viewed as impending financial doom. His famous hoard was discovered in his Thompson, Connecticut home following his death in 1886.

The Calendar Medal is one of two notable numismatic commissioned by White commissioned; the other is the Satirical Dollar (HK-829, #643565), which famously reads: "Never Keep a Paper Dollar in Your Pocket Till Tomorrow." Beyond its utility as a calendar, the medal serves as a vital historical document of 19th-century economic dissent.

Historical Significance

The obverse commemorates three pivotal dates in American history:

• July 4, 1776: American Independence.
• March 4, 1789: The ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
• January 1, 1863: The issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln.

Note: This medal is widely considered the first numismatic object to reference the Emancipation Proclamation.

Design Details

The reverse pays tribute to Enlightenment and Revolutionary figures, listing the birth and death dates of:

• George Washington
• Benjamin Franklin
• Thomas Jefferson
• The Marquis de Lafayette

The reverse also features a three-line inscription providing the issuer's details and original cost:

AARON WHITE, NEW BOSTON CONN. JAN 1, 1863. PRICE 25 CTS.

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